Tire Inspection & Recommendation: the full procedure

Measure tread depth, read wear patterns, check for damage and age, and recommend repair or replacement within the manufacturer’s repairable limits.

• Applies to: Tire technician.
• Frequency: Every tire service and on every customer concern.
• Scope: Defines the inspection process. Tread-depth minimums, repairable area, and age limits defer to USTMA/RMA, TIA, and the tire manufacturer.

What you need

• Tread depth gauge
• Tire pressure gauge
• Inspection light
• DOT date reference
• Marking crayon

The procedure, step by step

1. Measure tread depth — Use a depth gauge across multiple grooves; a tire worn to the 2/32" wear bars (federal minimum) must be replaced, not repaired.
2. Read the wear pattern — Note center, edge, cupping, or feathering wear that signals inflation, alignment, or suspension issues to address.
3. Check the DOT date — Read the 4-digit DOT code and flag aged tires per the manufacturer’s age guidance regardless of remaining tread.
4. Inspect for damage — Look for cuts, bulges, cracking, separations, and exposed cords that make a tire unrepairable.
5. Locate the injury — Mark any puncture and confirm whether it falls in the repairable crown/tread area.
6. Apply the repairable-area rule — NEVER repair a puncture in the sidewall or shoulder — those repairs are deferred to the manufacturer’s limits and are not permitted.
7. Dismount for full inspection — A puncture can only be cleared for repair after dismounting and inspecting the inner liner for hidden damage.
8. Recommend repair vs replace — Document the finding and recommend repair (within limits) or replacement, citing the deferral to industry/manufacturer standards.

Quality check before you finish

• Tread depth measured in multiple grooves.
• Wear pattern documented with likely cause.
• DOT date code read and age flagged.
• Sidewall and shoulder checked — no repair attempted there.
• Puncture size and location confirmed within repairable area.
• Inner liner inspected after dismount.
• Repair-or-replace recommendation documented.

This is a free, source-anchored standard operating procedure (SOP) you can print and hand to staff. It documents the work sequence for a Tire Shop business — not safety or regulatory rulings, which defer to the cited authorities, the applicable code, and your own health-and-safety plan. Open the tool above to print it, toggle ink-saver, or (with a free ToolFluency Business account) edit it to match your own workflow.

Sources

• USTMA — Repairs Limited to the Tread/Crown Area (ustires.org)
• Tire Industry Association — 2/32" Minimum Tread & Age (tireindustry.org)